Stefania Lenoci is the World Bank Group Resident Representative in Italy and Special Representative for Southern Europe, the Holy See and the United Nations Agencies in Rome. In this role, she leads the World Bank Group’s engagement with Southern European institutions and partners, international organizations, private sector and the Holy See, fostering strategic partnerships, policy dialogue, and collaboration on global development priorities.
Prior to joining the World Bank, Stefania served as the Head of the Private Sector Advisory and Implementation Unit (PAI) at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) from 2020 to 2024. In this capacity, she spearheaded IFAD’s direct investments in the private sector to drive inclusive and sustainable agricultural investments, ensuring the effective implementation of IFAD’s Private Sector Engagement Strategy. The PAI, established in 2019, played a central role in mobilizing private-sector partnerships and investments to enhance rural development and food security.
Before leading PAI, Stefania was Senior Adviser to the President of IFAD (2017-2020), where she contributed to shaping IFAD’s strategic priorities and institutional partnerships. She previously served as Adviser to the Vice-President of IFAD, Partnership Officer in the Partnership and Resource Mobilization Office (2012-2017), and Governing Bodies Officer in the Office of the Secretary (2010-2012).
Before joining IFAD, Stefania worked as a Programme Specialist in the Conflict and Post-Conflict Coordination Unit at UNESCO in Paris (2004-2010), focusing on education, culture and development programs in fragile contexts. She began her career at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Rabat (2003).
Stefania holds an MSc in Sustainable Development from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, and a BA in International and Diplomatic Sciences from the University of Trieste.